eBulletin April 2009 Edition 37
In this Edition:
Reminders - Data Q3, 2008/09:
| |
Data Due |
Reports posted |
| Type 1 |
8th May |
mid-June |
| Type 2 |
30th April |
mid-June |
Performance Indicators and Surveillance Plans 2009-10
Since the 2007-08 reporting period, an infection control data compliance Key Performance Indicator (KPI) was introduced into the Statement of
Priorities. The Statement of Priorities is an agreement between the minister and hospital boards on key deliverables and performance priorities
for the year, including KPI’s. Each month, performance against targets agreed in the Statement of Priorities is summarised in the Integrated
Performance Report. This report, which is for limited distribution to the Chief Executive Officer and board chair, gives a summary of the
health service performance.
The infection control data compliance KPI aims to improve the quality of infection control reporting by requiring health services to be fully
compliant in their data submission to the VICNISS Coordinating Centre. Health services have been providing data to VICNISS for over five years.
The VICNISS Performance Indicators are set out in the Type 1 and Type 2 Performance Indicators documents available on the VICNISS website.
These outline the defined set of surveillance activities and data quality indicators that hospitals are required to perform and achieve.
A public health service’s performance is analysed quarterly by the VICNISS Coordinating Centre (VCC) according to these indicators.
The VCC provides a report to the Quality and Safety Programs Unit of the Department detailing each hospital’s performance.
If a hospital is unable to undertake the surveillance activities as listed in the Performance Indicator document for any period of time,
formal notification to the VCC is required by completing the form
Notice of Inability to Undertake VICNISS Surveillance Activities
(Link removed - form updated on following web pages). This form is also available to download from the VICNISS website
Type 1 Manual and
Type 2 Manual pages on the VICNISS website.
This notification needs to be signed by the Infection Control Coordinator and the Infection Control Executive Sponsor.
This information will then be forwarded to the Department.
VICNISS Performance Indicators are reviewed annually by the VCC, the Department and are endorsed by the VICNISS Advisory
Committee (VAC).
All VICNISS Surveillance Plans are due to be submitted to the VCC by 1st June 2009.
When completing the Surveillance Plan, please refer to the Performance Indicators. Please contact the VCC if you have any inquiries regarding the
Performance Indicators or the Surveillance Plans. We have revised the Annual Surveillance Plans for the 2009-10 period:
- Type 1 Surveillance Plan - PDF version for completing manually and faxing or posting to VICNISS
(Link removed - form updated on following web pages)
- Type 1 Surveillance Plan - Word version for completing electonically and emailing to VICNISS
(Link removed - form updated on following web pages)
- Type 2 Surveillance Plan - PDF version for completing manually and faxing or posting to VICNISS
(Link removed - form updated on following web pages)
- Type 2 Surveillance Plan - Word version for completing electonically and emailing to VICNISS
(Link removed - form updated on following web pages)
These Surveillance Plan forms are also available to download from the VICNISS website
Type 1 Manual and
Type 2 Manual pages on the VICNISS website.
VICPA/VICNISS Journal Club
The next journal club will be held:
| Time: | Wednesday 15th July 2009 (included in VICPA half day infection control seminar) |
| Venue: | Caulfield General Medical Centre |
| Presenters: | Matt Mason (Bairnsdale Hospital) and Catina Eyres (Bendigo Health) |
Final details of articles for review will be forwarded closer to the date but please contact Judy Brett if you have any queries in the interim (or if you would like to get in early with those RSVP's).
For further enquiries and to RSVP please contact Judy Brett at VICNISS.
Please join us in continuing to make this a successful joint initiative between VICPA and VICNISS.
Type 1 Surveillance - SHIINe Rollout Update
A large percentage of Type 1 hospitals have now signed on to the SHIINe rollout project. This indicates that the hospital has evaluated the project
and committed resources to getting SHIINe installed. The company engaged on behalf of the Coordinating Centre to install SHIINe, Health IQ, have spent
the last few months building the data import channels using the HealthSmart Java CAPS integration engine. These channels are now complete and have
been tested with sample data. Health IQ will be organising the installation with IT departments, followed by user training organised by Judy
Brett from the VICNISS Coordinating Centre.
Type 1 Surveillance - SHIINe Pre and Post Implementation Survey
As many ICPs are aware VICNISS is currently rolling out surveillance specific software called SHIINe. It is anticipated that the benefits of SHIINe
may include time saving, real time reporting and improved data integrity. In order to objectively measure the changes as a result of SHIINe software
a pre and post SHIINe implementation survey has been developed. VICNISS will be contacting each type 1 hospital shortly by telephone to introduce
the survey and then follow-up with a nominated representative.
If you have any questions, please contact Judy Brett on 9342 3905.
Type 1 Surveillance - Satisfaction Survey
Many thanks to those who completed and returned the Satisfaction Surveys.
The survey is very important for the ongoing evaluation of the VICNISS Coordinating Centre, and planning of future resources.
A preliminary revision indicates positive responses however you will be informed when the final report is available on the VICNISS website.
Type 2 Surveillance Update
When completing the monthly (faxed) data collection forms:
1. If you choose to complete one form for multiple months, can you please specify for which month any events occurred.
2. If you choose to complete one form for multiple hospital campuses, can you please specify at which campuses any events occurred.
Each quarter, the VICNISS Coordinating Centre is required to let the Department of Human Services know which Type 2 hospitals have/have not submitted
the required data on time. If for whatever reason you cannot submit the required data on time, please let the VICNISS Coordinating Centre
know by completing an ‘inability notice’. These notices can be accessed on the VICNISS website
Type 2 Manual page.
Short Term Appointment to VICNISS Coordinating Centre
Matt Richards from Melbourne Health Infection Prevention and Surveillance Service commenced a 12 week fixed position at the VICNISS Coordinating
Centre on the 30th March. Matt was offered the short term appointment to assist with a literature review on strategies to prevent
central line associated bloodstream infection in patients in intensive care units and provide recommendations. Matt is also assisting with the
report to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care on national surgical site surveillance and antimicrobial usage and
resistance data costings project.
Infection Control Literature Review, April 2009
Our most recent
literature review, for April, compiled by Dr Leon Worth, ID Physician,
discusses current research on the following selected topics:
- Microperforation of Surgical Gloves and ‘Wear-time’: When Should Gloves be Routinely Changed?
- Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from Intravascular Catheter Tips in
the Absence of a Positive Blood Culture
